Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

For Immediate Release: October 7, 2019

HONOLULU—The Business Development & Support Division (BDSD) of the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) is supporting the intensive executive education of 70 Hawaii small business owners by partnering with Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC), a national program designed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to help small businesses in economically-distressed areas. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region is generously providing sponsorship of the ICCC program to help Hawaii’s small businesses build capacity for sustainable growth in revenue, profitability, and employment.

Kaiser Permanente has invited ICCC to Hawaii to build on their recent success achieved in California. BDSD, along with other support agencies, was invited to nominate eligible small businesses to be considered for ICCC’s executive education program that is offered at no charge. Selected business owners will gain knowledge from the following program components:

• A full-day Opening Seminar that offers classes led by nationally recognized business school professors, providing practical content that is actionable;
• Webinars that are led by experienced practitioners to help participants overcome growth challenges;
• One-on-one coaching that gives participants individualized feedback and helps them position for long-term success. Coaching helps business owners refine their pitch for capital and/or tackle specific business challenges; and
• The culminating National Conference that focuses on business owners refining their capital pitch and gaining access to capital providers. Participants ultimately gain from the program a clear understanding of capital alternatives, a sharpened strategic focus, a vibrant business network, and several new capital connections.

“DBEDT is sincerely grateful to ICIC for providing the ICCC program to Hawaii’s small business owners,” said Dennis Ling, administrator, BDSD. “We are especially thankful to Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region for their sponsorship. Through our export promotion activities, we know the diverse products offered by our nominated companies are in great demand throughout the world. We are excited to see the ICCC program’s impact on these Hawaii businesses to help them gain access to more capital and achieve sustainable growth.”

“ICIC is proud to partner with Kaiser Permanente and DBEDT to bring this transformative initiative to Hawaii’s small business community for the first time,” said Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC. “Participants will be well-positioned for accelerated growth, job creation, and access to capital. We hope that Hawaii’s small business ecosystem will benefit from this pioneering investment for years to come.”

“When small businesses thrive, our communities thrive. By giving our small business owners opportunities to succeed, the entire community reaps the benefits of job growth, economic stability, improved access to services, and healthier residents,” said Dave Underriner, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Hawaii Region. “We’re proud to support the hardworking entrepreneurs who are committed to improving the health of their own organization and contributing to economic vitality across Hawaii.”

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About the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT)
DBEDT is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawaii economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawaii’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments, and promotes innovation sector job growth.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in Hawaii in 1958, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.3 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. about.kaiserpermanente.org

About Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC)
Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a national program designed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to help small businesses in economically-distressed areas to build capacity for sustainable growth in revenue, profitability, and employment. ICIC is a national nonprofit research and advisory organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economics and the businesses that thrive there. ICIC’s mission is to drive economic prosperity in America’s under-resourced communities through private sector investment to create jobs, income and wealth for local residents.

Media Contact:

Lyle Fujikawa
Business Development & Support Division
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Phone: (808) 587-2774
invest.hawaii.gov